McCain: NFL should test for human growth hormone

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) chided the National Football League for failing to implement random testing for use of human growth hormone ahead of Thursday’s season opener.

“With the new National Football League (NFL) season set to kick off tomorrow night, I write to express profound disappointment that random testing for human growth hormone (hGH) has still not been implemented in the NFL despite all sides committing to it more than three years ago in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement,” McCain wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday.

{mosads}McCain said it was “embarrassing” that the NFL has failed to implement such a testing rule before the season opener where the Green Bay Packers will take on last year’s Super Bowl champs, the Seattle Seahawks.

“It erodes fans’ confidence in the integrity of a great American sport, and sends a dangerous message to young athletes that there are no consequences for hGH use by the NFL players they admire and seek to emulate,” McCain wrote.

McCain cited a study showing an increase of hGH use by student athletes, and said it was the NFL’s responsibility to set a good example for children.